World News - Up to 105 die in fierce Afghan violence. Another War we declared Victory is starting to look like what the Russians ran into before they fled 10 years after they invaded

Some of the fiercest violence since the Taliban's ouster in 2001 has erupted across sout Afghanistan, with militants battling US & Canadian forces, detonating car bombs & attacking a small village. Up to 105 persons were killed. Much of the violence occurred in the southern provinces of Helmand & Kandahar, where thousands of extra NATO troops are scheduled to deploy this summer to counter an increasing number of attacks from a stubborn insurgency. The Taliban death toll from fighting Wed night & today ranged up to 85, US & Afghan officials said. Also, 15 Afghan police officers, 1 American civilian, a Canadian soldier & an Afghan civilian were killed in the attacks. The Canadian was the first female soldier from her nation to die in combat. Taliban rebels are made up of ethnic Pashtuns, the majority in Afghanistan's southern & eastern regions near the Pakistani border. Insurgent attacks have been concentrated there, though the violence rarely has been as fierce as in the past 24 hours... http://www.washingtontimes.com

An Egyptian judge has been reprimanded for speaking out about election fraud in last year's presidential elections. In a case that has become a rallying point for the pro-reform movement, Hesham Bastawisi avoided being sacked as a senior appeals court judge. Another judge in the same case was acquitted at the disciplinary hearing. Police attacked demonstrators in streets outside the High Court, where the case was heard, arresting dozens and beating protesters to the ground. In another room at the same courthouse, a judge rejected the appeal of jailed opposition leader Ayman Nour. Police arrested dozens of protesters, many from the Muslim Brotherhood group, as others were chased away and beaten. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4992502.stm

Spain has asked the European Union for more help to deal with a renewed wave of illegal immigrants travelling by sea from West Africa. More than 1,500 illegal immigrants have arrived on the Canary Islands in the past week. Spain has stepped up air and sea patrols and is consulting with African countries in a bid to curb the influx. Many migrants who risk the trip to the Canary Islands see them as a stepping- stone to a better life in Europe. Jean-Philippe Chauzy, of the International Organisation for Migration, said countries like Spain were attractive to immigrants because it was easy to get a job there without going through official channels. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4993004.stm

Romano Prodi has said the war in Iraq was a "grave error" in his first speech to Italy's Senate as prime minister. "It is the intention of this government to propose to parliament the return of our troops from Iraq," he said. The previous government of centre-right PM Silvio Berlusconi had decided to withdraw Italy's 2,600 troops from Iraq by the end of 2006. Mr Prodi, whose centre-left bloc beat Mr Berlusconi in April's elections, did not confirm that deadline. The new cabinet was sworn in on Wednesday. The BBC's David Willey in Rome says Mr Prodi's comments on the Iraq war caused uproar among opposition politicians in the upper house. "We consider the war and occupation in Iraq a grave error that hasn't solved - but has complicated - the problem of security," Mr Prodi said. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4993786.stm

An Australian wheat exporter has admitted paying money to Saddam Hussein's former regime in Iraq in violation of United Nations sanctions. An inquiry into claims that the former Australian Wheat Board paid bribes for contracts released a statement in which the board apologised for its actions. The board said it was "truly sorry" and regretted any damage it had caused. Australian Prime Minister John Howard has been among officials questioned by the inquiry, which will report in June. The draft statement was submitted to the inquiry in March but only made public on Thursday. In it, the wheat board's former managing director Andrew Lindberg, acknowledges that money was paid to the former Iraqi regime in contravention of UN sanctions. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4993376.stm

The US Senate has approved the construction of fencing along the southern border with Mexico. The move forms part of an immigration bill being discussed by senators, who also backed a plan to allow illegal migrants a chance at citizenship. Hundreds of campaigners gathered in Washington to lobby senators. Correspondents say the Senate vote largely follows the outlines of President Bush's speech on Monday, in which he proposed immigration reforms. Mr Bush sought to appease both conservatives and pro-immigrant campaigners, proposing the creation of a "path to citizenship" for illegal incomers, along with steps to bolster border security. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4992328.stm